By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 17th September 2024 | Updated: 20th September 2024
A location like no other in Switzerland, Zermatt is world-renowned not just for its Matterhorn, but also for the friendly Valais Black-nose sheep, the stunning hikes and the picturesque typically Swiss historic village centre. Any trip to Zermatt is not complete without seeing at least a couple of these things. So here is our guide to the best 2 day Zermatt itinerary where you can witness all of the above:
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Zermatt Itinerary Map
2 Day Zermatt Itinerary
We are basing this Zermatt itinerary off a trip we took to Zermatt in the summer that was honestly one of the most memorable trips we have had in Switzerland to date. As we only had a couple of days we opted to stay outside of the centre and instead up a local mountain in a mountain hut, which was incredible and we would highly recommend everyone to do the same! If that isn’t quite your cup of tea, then we have an alternative Zermatt itinerary where you can stay in the centre of Matterhorn as well.
Zermatt Itinerary including stay in a mountain hut:
Zermatt Itinerary Day 1
Start the day off with a wander through Zermatt. We can recommend following this rough route which allows you to see all the main sights in Zermatt, stop by some lovely cafes and eateries and see some incredible views of the Matterhorn:
Zermatt Bahnhof > Bahnhofstrasse > Kirchstrasse > Steinmattstrasse > Zum Steg > Vispastrasse > Sunnegga Zermatt Station.
Be sure to stop at Bäckerei Fuchs along the Bahnhofstrasse to grab some lunch/snacks, we can highly recommend the salami brötchen, ham and cheese sandwiches and the apple strudel. Also be sure to taste the unique Zermatt mountain bread, Bergführerbrot, filled with apples, figs, nuts, cinnamon and cocoa – yes it is as good as it sounds!
If you want some incredible views of the Matterhorn whilst in the centre of Zermatt then be sure to head to Schälpmattgasse just off of Kirchstrasse and along Steinmattstrasse too.
After wandering through Zermatt and enjoying the historic town, head along the river at Vispastrasse to the Sunnegga Zermatt Station, where you will then take the funicular up to Sunnegga before switching to the gondola up to Blauherd to start the Five Lakes Hike.
We go into more detail on this hike in another blog post, which you can find here, but for day 1 of this Zermatt itinerary you will be walking from Blauherd to Stellisee and then further on up to the Fluhalp Mountain Hut.
As you will be only doing part of the Five Lakes Hike on this day, the best ticket options are from CHF 33 one way from Zermatt to Blauherd, (for the first day) and from CHF 18 one way from Sunnegga to Zermatt, (for the second day). You can buy these directly at the transport stations.
Zermatt Itinerary Day 2
On the second day of the Zermatt itinerary start the day nice and early with breakfast at the mountain hut, which is the perfect way to set up your day, before heading off on down the mountain towards Sunnegga finishing off the rest of the Five Lakes hike. As you spent the night up the mountain the hike is likely to be pretty much empty, we didn’t see anyone along the route until most of the way down and it made it even more wonderful.
It takes roughly 2.5 hours / 9km to hike from Fluhalp Mountain Hut down to Sunnegga, (we did it in three hours although that did include plenty of stops for photos as well as snacks and meeting the sheep!), leaving you plenty of time to wander through Zermatt for the rest of the day.
Finish off the day with a bite to eat in Zermatt at Theodors Stuba, the Älplermagronen and rosti with veal sausage, along with a glass of the local Valaisanne beer is delicious. Plus, if you are lucky and visit in the summer, you can also catch the daily Blackneck goat tour along the Bahnhofstrasse. (they are walked past at around 9 am and 4:30 pm each day throughout the summer).
After grabbing some food, head down the road to the Bahnhof, maybe popping in a few shops on the way – Mammut and Bayard Sport Zermatt are perfect for outdoor gear/gifts and Swiss Shop 1291, is great for souvenirs, ready to hop on the train to your next destination.
Zermatt Itinerary including stay in Zermatt centre:
Zermatt Itinerary Day 1
On the first day of the Zermatt itinerary, you are going to spend the whole day exploring what the wonderful town of Zermatt has to offer with the second day spent hiking. Of course, if the weather is not playing ball for you then switch these days around so you get to hike in the better weather. No one wants to be stuck up a mountain in bad weather!
We can recommend following this route through Zermatt which allows you to see all the best bits of the town, as well as see some incredible views of the Matterhorn:
Zermatt Bahnhof > Bahnhofstrasse > Schälpmattgasse > Kirchstrasse > Steinmattstrasse > Zum Steg > Vispastrasse
Both Schälpmattgasse and Steinmattstrasse have incredible views of the Matterhorn overlooking the town and at Kirchstrasse you have the opportunity to visit both the Pfarrkirch St Mauritius and the Matterhorn Museum, where you can learn about the local history and mountaineers of the Matterhorn.
If you are visiting Zermatt in the summer, you can also watch the Blackneck goat tour, they are walked from the lower mountain pastures along Bahnhofstrasse every day at around 9 am and 4:30 pm, or along the riverside in case of events being held along Bahnhofstrasse.
For lunch head to Bäckerei Fuchs, we can highly recommend the salami brötchen and the apple strudel. Also be sure to try the Zermatt mountain bread that they bake, Bergführerbrot. It is filled with apples, figs, nuts, cinnamon and cocoa and is truly delicious!
For dinner, we recommend Theodors Stuba, the traditional Swiss dishes of Älplermagronen and rosti with veal sausage are delicious and go down great with a glass of the local Valaisanne beer.
If you are after a bit of retail therapy then both Mammut and Bayard Sport Zermatt are perfect for outdoor gear and the Swiss Shop 1291, is perfect for souvenirs.
Zermatt Itinerary Day 2
For the second day, we are heading up into the mountains to hike the famous Five Lakes trail. It takes roughly 3 hours to complete the whole hike, not including for stopping and taking photos or eating along the way, so we would recommend allowing for half a day / 5 hours. Believe us when we say you will be stopping to take in the view more than you realise!
We have the full breakdown of the Five Lakes hike here, but this is the basis of the day:
Starting in Zermatt take the funicular railway to Sunnegga, then from Sunnegga transfer onto the gondola up to Blauherd. From Blauherd you then follow the signs for the 5 Seenweg, which will lead you on a short uphill walk to the first of the lakes, Stellisee.
From Stellisee you can either opt to continue on the Five Lakes hike towards Grindijsee or depending on how hungry you are, (or if you want a drink with a view, which we would highly recommend!), head further up the valley to the Fluhalp Mountain Hut & Restaurant first before continuing on the hike.
From Fluhalp you basically head all the way down through a small valley to Grindjisee before tracking even further down into the valley towards Grünsee. The paths are all very easy to follow throughout this hike with obvious routes so you would struggle to get lost.
Then from Grünsee you hike down past another mountain hut and even further down into the valley until you reach Moosjisee, This is where we met the Valais black-nosed sheep so expect to spend a little longer at this lake if they are around, you can’t walk past without giving at least one of them a head scratch!
The only truly uphill section of the Five Lakes Hike is from Moosjisee to Leisee, but thankfully this is also the shortest section of the hike between lakes. From Leisee it is just a short walk up the hill to get back to the Sunnegga top station. After you arrive at Sunnegga, you can then eat at the restaurant here if you need some sustenance, or just head back down into Zermatt ready to continue on to your next destination in Switzerland.
As you are doing the Five Lakes Hike without stopping overnight at the mountain hut, then you can get a Kombi Ticket which costs from CHF 47.
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More Time In Zermatt: Additional Zermatt Itinerary Options
If you have more time in Zermatt then we can recommend heading up one of the other mountains in the area. Here is what they have to offer:
🥾 Gornergrat 3089m – those famous Valais sheep are often found up here between Riffelalp and Riffelberg during the summer months and if you are after some incredible views of nearby glaciers this is also a great place to visit.
🥾 Schwarzsee 2583m, Trockener Steg 2939m and Hörnlihütte Matterhorn 3260m – this is where you can get up close to the Matterhorn on The Matterhorn Glacier Trail, which passes by a number of lakes before heading up to the Hörnlibahn Bergstation and then down to Schwarzsee. You can of course do this the other way around which would involve less climbing!
🥾 Matterhorn Glacier Paradise 3821m – if you want one of the best views in all of the Alps then this is the place to go with 38 four-thousanders and 14 glaciers that can be seen from here. You can even cross over the highest Alpine crossing into Italy here via Testa Grigia.
Where to stay in Zermatt
During our stay in Zermatt, we actually spent the night in a mountain hut along the Five Lakes hike called Fluhalp, which we can highly recommend, if not for the incredible views, but for the lovely owners and wonderful food.
If staying in a mountain hut is not really your thing, then Hotel Bahnhof Zermatt in the centre of Zermatt is a great option for those on a budget. For those who want to stay somewhere with views of the Matterhorn and an onsite spa then Hotel Schweizerhof or Grand Hotel Zermatterhof are fantastic options.
If you have the budget and want a stay in Zermatt with a difference then Nomad by CERVO is where you should go with its modern hotel cross with mountain lodge vibes, fantastic onsite restaurant and a relaxing spa and hot spring bath with quite possibly the best view of the Matterhorn in all of Zermatt.
Check out the map below for even more accommodation options and deals around Zermatt.
Zermatt Itinerary FAQs
How to get to Zermatt
Due to heavy flooding and storms that swept through Valais at the beginning of the summer of 2024, the train between Visp and Täsch is currently not operational as the tracks were washed away. However, there is a replacement coach service between these locations that drops you off directly at the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, and the journey is one of the most picturesque coach trips I have ever been on! Plus, the coaches themselves are really comfortable with massive panoramic windows so you can really take in the views on the route.
If you are instead planning to drive to Zermatt you need to be aware that Zermatt itself is car free, (other than for residents), so you will have to park at Täsch, (there are 2,100 covered parking spaces), then take the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn in.
📍 From Zurich by car / public transport: 3 hours 45 minutes / 230km by car and 3 hours 20 minutes by train
📍 From Geneva by car / public transport: 3 hours / 235km by car and 4 hours by train
📍 From Basel by car / public transport: 3 hours 25 minutes / 225km by car and 3 hours 20 minutes by train
📍 From Bern by car / public transport: 2 hours 30 minutes / 135km by car and 2 hours by train
📍 From Lucerne by car / public transport: 3 hours 20 minutes / 175km by car and 3 hours 45 minutes by train
How to get around Zermatt
The best way to get around Zermatt is on foot, which makes it perfect for seeing all the sights and stumbling upon a few good cafes and restaurants too. There are also eTaxi’s and and eBus that run through the centre, namely between the train station and the various hotels as well, so if you have a lot of luggage and don’t want to lug it through the centre there are electric vehicle options.
What is the best time to visit Zermatt?
There is no bad time to visit Zermatt! With those views and the experiences you can have throughout the year, there really isn’t a time that Zermatt is ever not worth visiting. We visited in the summer and loved it because of the hiking we could do, but going back in the winter is high on our list as it is supposedly one of the most picturesque locations to have snow in all of Switzerland.
How many days do I need in Zermatt? Is one day in Zermatt enough? Is 2 days enough for Zermatt?
We spent two days in Zermatt and didn’t feel rushed, but that being said if we had had more time we would easily have filled the days with trips up the nearby mountains. Overall we would suggest at least two days in Zermatt would be ideal.
Can you do Matterhorn and Gornergrat in one day?
Assuming you want to just visit Gornergrat and the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, without doing too much hiking then yes you could visit both in one day but we wouldn’t necessarily suggest it. There is lots to discover at both locations, (including the cute sheep at Gornergrat!), and they don’t deserve to be rushed.
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Conclusion: The Best 2 Day Zermatt Itinerary
So there you have our 2 day Zermatt itinerary, which we honestly think is the best itinerary for spending two days exploring, hiking and staying in a mountain hut around Zermatt. From the beautiful historic village to the incredible mountain views, and of course the black-nosed sheep and black-necked goats, what is there not to like in Zermatt?
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Visit Switzerland On A Budget
📍 Five Lakes Hike Zermatt Guide
📍 The Perfect Interlaken Itinerary
📍 The Perfect Grindelwald Itinerary
📍 The Perfect Lauterbrunnen Itinerary
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.